320aaks vs 640aaks

[Vague]

I'm currently running a 320aaks re certified drive that WD sent back on a warranty repair a few months ago. Is this the same tech that goes into the 640aaks drive the is supposed to be really fast and everyone loves?

I'm putting together a new machine and wondering whether I can stick with my 320 or will the 640 really make a big difference or should I upgrade to a raptor? Newegg has a 150GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011 with the same specs $20 more and twice the capacity as the 74GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033

which drive should I be looking at? The warranty on the raptors is very appealing and I think will justify the price.

[bigdogchris]

I've heard the older 3200AAKS drivers are just 2 160GB plates, where the newer 3200AAKS are the single 320 GB high density platters, the platters from the 640 and 1tb drives.

So it depends. I don't have anymore information on it though sorry. You're going to have the check the serial online.

[jmphx]

I've read and seen benchmarks on the 320GB WD's (1 320 platter) that aren't so impressive. The claimed reason (with quotes from WD) is that the 320 was tuned down a bit to appeal to mass-market OEMs (lower noise, lower power), while the 640GB (2 320 platter) runs at top speed.

I went from 2x250GB RAID-0 to a single 640GB and I love it. The speed on these 640's is great.

[msabo]

A few months ago, when I was building my latest rig, I came on this analysis (http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3269&p=2). Convinced me to go with the WD 640GB

[axan]

new single platter 3200aaks drives are built to be silent and cool, they are bit faster then normal 320gb drives but not as fast as the 6400aaks. If you want the fastest 7200rpm drive go for the wd6400aaks

[bigdogchris]

If you want the fastest 7200rpm drive go for the wd6400aaksQFT